Ladder construction



Feb. e, 1945. Q BRA D 2,368,915

I LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.OTTQ J. BRANDEL gill 7:2 I I -%7@ Feb. 6, 1945. O J BRANDEL 2,368,915

LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1944 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTOJ. BRANDEL Patented Feb. 6, 1 945 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDERGONSTRUGTION- om J.'Brandel, Portland, Oreg. Application January 11,1944, Serial No. 517,835 Claims. 11. 228-29).

This invention relates to ladders and is particularly adapted to foldingA-frame ladders.

The primary object of the invention is to pro'-.

vide a folding ladder of considerable rigidity, a ladder that willsupport scaifolding and th'elike with safety. I I -A further object ofthe invention is to provide a hinge that will permit the folding of theladder within itself, requiring a minimum amount of storage space.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hinge that willafford great rigidity and that will hold the frame of the ladder in openposition without any locking mechanism, at the same time affording greatstrength.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings,specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates my new and improved ladder in operating position.

Figure 2 illustrates the ladder in inoperative and folded position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the top and hinged portionof the ladder.

Figure 4 illustrates a fragmentary front view of the ladder, partiallybroken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary inverted perspective.

illustration of the hinged portion of the ladder.

Figure 6. is a fragmentary and sectional detail illustrating a modifiedform of construction.

In the drawings:

My new and improved ladder l consists of usual construction of steps 2and reenforcing rods 3 assembled together between the side frames 4 and5. Secured to the upper ends of the frames 4 and 5 are hinged members 6.These members may be secured tothe upper ends of the frame 4 and 5 byany suitable means, preferably bolts 1.

The members 6 form part of my invention and have angle portions 8 formedthereon, best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. These angles are securedto the top step 9 of the ladder by suitable fasteningmeans, as screws orbolts Ill. The supporting or bracing frames I I and l2 of the ladderhave hinged members 13 fixed to their upper ends by suitable fasteningmeans, as bolts M.

A spacer [5, preferably a hollow tube, passes through the openings It atthe upper end of the ladder frames 4 and 5 and bears against the hingedmembers 6 and I3 at each of its ends, spacing the' side frames of theladder apart. A tie rod ll passes through the upper ends of the braceframes H and I2 through the members I 3 spacer bar I 5. The tie rod hasa holding nut 20 on one of its ends for tightening the whole assemblytogether, best illustrated in Figure 4.

Providing a spacer between the hinge members and the side frames of theladder is one of the 'primaryobjects of my invention. The cinching up ofthe hinge portions by the tie rods against the spacer bar provides anassembly of rigid construction, not obtained by usin individual selfcontained hinge members, whichhas been the constructionused before mypresent construction.

The members l3 have extensions 2| which limit the opening of the ladderin erected position. The extension 2| bears against'the angle 8 at 22,providing a rigid stop for limiting the movement of the bracing supportsII and I2. The pivot point of the hinge members 8 and I3 are locatedmidway the width of the ladder frames, permitting the braces and [2 toem-' brace the ladder frames 4 and 5 when the ladder is folded, bestillustrated in Figure 2. This is an important feature of my inventionproviding a portable device requiring a minimum of space.

I have found that in using A-frame ladders for scaffolding and the like,that it is most desirable 7 whole assembly tightly together so thatfriction developed between the membe 6 and 13 will hold the frames ofthe ladder in desired fixed position, requiring no other means ofholding the ladder in open or closed position.

In Figure 6 I show a modified form of construction, wherein anadditional bracing member 23 is secured to the top 9 by the angle 24 andbolts 25.

The member 23 is fixedly secured to the ladder 1. A step ladder,comprising main and bracing frames, each including uprights, one havingsteps,

a hinge-forming element secured to the uprights of the main frame, acooperating hinge element carried by the uprights of the bracing frame,a.

at l8 and the members 5 at l9, as well as the hollow spacing memberbridging the uprights of the main frame, extending through such uprightsand bearing squarely against the hinge element of such main frame, and ahinge rod extending through the spacing member,v uprights of both framesand. the hinge elements of the latter, and 5 means for securing thehinge rod.

2. A step ladder, comprising main and bracing frames, each includinguprights, one having steps, a hinge-forming element secured to theuprights of the main frame,' :a-c0operating hinge-element 1-10 carriedby*"-.'the -'uprightstof the bracingrframeaai hollow spacing memberbridging the uprights of the main frame, extending through such uprightsand bearing squarely against the hinge element of such main frame, saidspacing member provid-i ing bracing means between the uprightsrofrbothe.

frames having contact bearing between the hinge-' forming elements ofthe mainlframeuprightsi:

3. A step ladder, comprising main andvbracing,

frames, each including uprights, one having steps, 20

a hinger-forming element-secured to the ruprightsaofsthermainframemazcooperatin hinga'element. caflriedfbyi the uprights; of: thebra'cing ..,frame,- ,azi hollowrspacing. member ibridgingrthesuprights;ofr-r 'the-maimframe;:extending throughsuch upri'ghtsx I andwkbearingjsquarely :againstthe hinge'relementn ofesuchnmain frame;said:spacingemember;v pro.-= vidi-ng bracingmeans between the uprightsofboth frames'having-contactlbearing-between=thehinge forming=elementsofithe mainrframeuprights; and

-,en ds i squarely againstrtherhinge "sections-refit means whereby suchcontact may be tightened to insure rigidity of support at the pivotline.

4. A step ladder, comprising main and bracing frames, each includinguprights, one having steps, a hinge-forming element secured to theuprights of the main frame, a cooperating hinge element carried by'theuprights of the bracing frame, a hollow spacing member bridging theuprights of the main frame, extending through such uprights and.bearinguv squarely against: the 'hinge element of su'ch main frame, andJaihin'gearod fixt'ending through 'the spacing member uprights of bothframes and the hinge elements of the latter, and means for securing thehinge rod, and cooperating means on the hinge elements of each frame tomain frame, said brace member bridgingandaext-ie. tending :through the:uprights iof ifthe mainrfram'e, an'daend V :-.tightening :means :onthGEpiYOt-i'iI'OdJtO J5 maintaimthe bracingzefiectzoff the .brace'membe1 O'I'I'O J. BRANDELw

